Hanmer Springs Earthquake

First Person - Having experienced the Canterbury earthquakes, Mike Crean feels a desperate sadness for those affected by today's shaking.

What creates aftershocks? How can two earthquakes feel like a single shake? Alison Ballance explains the seismic forces that shape New Zealand.

"Keep Calm and Carry On" is much overused but, boy, it's perfect for this situation. Video

The midnight earthquake affected people up and down New Zealand - followed by ongoing strong and severe aftershocks. Video

There have been several strong jolts in New Zealand since the deadly February 2011 Canterbury quake, but today's was the strongest. Audio

Today's earthquakes threw schools into turmoil in much of the lower North Island and upper South Island.

The national controller for Civil Defence is confident support is getting through to Kaikoura, which appears worst hit by last night's 7.5 magnitude earthquake.

There have been two fatalities after a series of huge earthquakes overnight, Prime Minister John Key says. Video

Police are investigating 19 reported burglaries at homes in Canterbury that may have happened when people were evacuated from their homes.

There have been scores of aftershocks since the deadly quake felt across New Zealand today, including a severe shake of magnitude 6.3 this afternoon. Audio

The "severe quake" which was felt across New Zealand this morning could have been caused by a number of faults, GNS Science says.

It was a cold dark night for hundreds of people from Canterbury to Wellington, forced to flee their homes after a strong earthquake struck just after midnight.

Quake recovery efforts will be hampered by the weather today, with severe gales expected to hit the upper South Island and lower North Island today.